Halloween Haunts: Introducing New Readers to Horror by Adrian Ludens

Let me be clear: horror is NOT just for Halloween! I believe this with heart and soul, and yet, I’m guilty of perpetuating that stereotype. Think about the average reader: the stay-at-home parent seeking diversion during a few quiet minutes; the businessman or businesswoman reading during their commute on the subway; the person who turns up their nose at everything that isn’t “literature;” the person who only reads non-fiction; the person who read one horror author once and gave up on the genre. This list could go on. Horror is often marginalized, much to my frustration. Here are a couple…

Halloween Haunts: Fort Fear–Writing the Origin Story for a Haunted Attraction by Adrian Ludens

“We want to build a haunted attraction and we'd like you to write a back story for it.” An origin story for a spook house? What a novel idea! More of a short story idea, really, but still an inviting challenge. One I readily accepted. Four summers ago, I sat in an Irish pub in Rapid City, SD with the creative team behind a new Halloween attraction. Fort Fear, as they called it, was to be set up inside a chuck wagon supper establishment that would conveniently be closed for the season. “We want an Old West theme.” “We have…